ANCHORAGE, Alaska (CNN) – Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin abused her power as Alaska's governor and a violated state ethics law by trying to get her ex-brother-in-law fired from the state police, a state investigator's report concluded Friday.

"Governor Palin knowingly permitted a situation to continue where impermissible pressure was placed on several subordinates in order to advance a personal agenda," the report states.

Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan's refusal to fire State Trooper Mike Wooten from the state police force was "likely a contributing factor" to Monegan's July dismissal, but Palin had the authority as governor to sack him, the report by former Anchorage prosecutor Stephen Branchflower states. However, it states that her efforts to get Wooten fired broke a state ethics law that bars public officials from pursuing personal interest through official action.

Monegan has said he was fired in July after refusing pressure to sack Wooten, who had gone through an acrimonious divorce and custody battle with Palin's sister. Palin and her husband, Todd, have consistently denied any wrongdoing, describing Wooten as a "rogue trooper" who had threatened their family - allegations Branchflower discounted.

"I conclude that such claims of fear were not bona fide and were offered to provide cover for the Palins' real motivation: to get Trooper Wooten fired for personal family reasons," Branchflower wrote.

soundoff(1,073 Responses)

ONLY 25 MORE DAYS IN WHICH WE HAVE TO LISTEN TO MOOSE FLATULENCE FROM THE NEWLY CROWNED 2008 MISS MOOSE ANAL SPHINCTER(THE “FOLKSY“ TRANSLATION IS A$$WHOLE) WINK!

I am guessing she will now get all "mavericky" and try and use this as a reason to step down.

The Geezer and Gidget team does it at their peril.

Step down and you admit the vetting was incomplete since repubs have stated they knew about this Geezer will look very ERRATIC

Stay and the whole "you cannot TRUST the domestic terroist" agruement is off the table, Guess she will have to dazzle us with her intelligence...

Game over!! Better luck in 2012!

October 10, 2008 08:49 pm at 8:49 pm |

Bill

I'm shocked by this. She seems so nice on the campaign trail, especially these days. Of course, I can't understand her any more clearly than Boomhauer.

October 10, 2008 08:49 pm at 8:49 pm |

michele

good for that airhead dummy. she abuse her power lack of intelligent. only read a script instead of her talking from her own though. no cain no palin no way and no how.

October 10, 2008 08:49 pm at 8:49 pm |

Dennis

Nice judgement mcshame.

October 10, 2008 08:49 pm at 8:49 pm |

Emit R Detsaw

Doh!

October 10, 2008 08:49 pm at 8:49 pm |

Samuel

Abuse of power by a member of the executive branch? Now we know Palin is experienced enough to be Vice President – Bush and Cheney must be so proud!

October 10, 2008 08:49 pm at 8:49 pm |

MEL1227

Last I knew, breaking a state statute was breaking the law.

October 10, 2008 08:49 pm at 8:49 pm |

catmom

Just like McCain and the Keating Five where he showed poor judgement, now Palin abusing her power as Governor. MORE OF THE SAME...Lets see how Republicans spin this.

October 10, 2008 08:49 pm at 8:49 pm |

Hillary Supporter for McCain/Palin

Political report out to stop McCain/Palin gain in the polls!

October 10, 2008 08:49 pm at 8:49 pm |

Serious Voter

What the report also said is that what Palin did was violate the people's trust. She's been so hypocritical about Obama, and saying that you can't trust him, but now a bipartisan board has unanimously decided that she did indeed abused her power as governor. I don't know about any of you, but Bush abused his power as our president for eight years, we absolutely can't afford another four of more of this.

October 10, 2008 08:49 pm at 8:49 pm |

PDXGirl

Not surprising, she's been playing Personnel Chess since she was mayor. I wonder what other skeletons are in that dark closet of hers. I hope Monegan receives a big wrongful termination bonus.

We can't afford more abuse of power in the White House.

Obama | Biden '08-'12

October 10, 2008 08:49 pm at 8:49 pm |

AB

The Fonz: "I jumped the shark!"

Tom Cruise: "I jumped the couch!"

John McCain: "I got Palined!"

October 10, 2008 08:49 pm at 8:49 pm |

paul in memphis

this is one the worst woman i have ever seen all my life , she is evil and you can tell by her eyes,hiding under the cover and have bad tendencies in her

October 10, 2008 08:49 pm at 8:49 pm |

VP - North Carolina

NO SURPRISE she abused power as Mayor building on land that the City did not and still does not own completely. So scary that there will be people casting their vote for that ticket which would put her a heart beat away from possibly being the next President. OMG if she is abusing power now she will UNCONTROLABLE as VP and be NO DIFFERENT from the current VP!

October 10, 2008 08:49 pm at 8:49 pm |

April in Texas

Well I must say I am not surprised.. Wonder if the crazy attacks will finally stop in regards to Obama and trusting him..

October 10, 2008 08:50 pm at 8:50 pm |

muggie

can you imagine what she would do as VP, or even worse if somehow she managed to inherit the position of commander and chief.
Your civil liberties would fly out the window and it would no longer be the land of the free.

October 10, 2008 08:50 pm at 8:50 pm |

MN from Phoenix, AZ

And this is a person we want in our top office? Abuse of power is abuse of power. Bush/Cheney blatantly did it to the dismay of many American citizens. And now you have a governor who have been found to have abused power as well and is running for Vice President.

Please people. Use common sense when voting. Not to the fear inducing and mob mentality that comes close to rioting.

October 10, 2008 08:50 pm at 8:50 pm |

Niki

John McCain and Sarah Palin are responsible for planting the seeds of suspicion from which hatred has grown.

October 10, 2008 08:50 pm at 8:50 pm |

American Abroad

No comment...

Obama/Biden '08/'12

October 10, 2008 08:50 pm at 8:50 pm |

Chris

Aside from Sarah Palin being completely unqualified for President...

We now discover that she abuses her power. As if we havent had enough of that in the last 8 years?

Go back to Alaska Sarah Palin.

October 10, 2008 08:50 pm at 8:50 pm |

Ken in NC

Well she abused her power as the Govenor of Alaska. Can you begin to imagine what she would do as Vice President? Six-Pack-Sarah needs to be sent packing back to the cold tundra's of Alaska so she can vent her anger on the Moose population.

I still believe a voter supporting John McCain would be like be like a chicken supporting Colonel Sanders.

October 10, 2008 08:50 pm at 8:50 pm |

Linda31

Something we've all known.

October 10, 2008 08:50 pm at 8:50 pm |

insanity

hypocrite !!!

October 10, 2008 08:50 pm at 8:50 pm |

brittan

this is actually very funny, more so b/c of her saying that she did nothing wrong